Thomas Anstey Guthrie (1856-1934), 'F. Anstey'; author of 'Vice Versa'

Sitter in 3 portraits
Trained in the law, Thomas Anstey Guthrie was called to the Bar in 1881. However, the success of his story Vice-Versa(1882) with its substitution of a father for his schoolboy son, immediately made his reputation as a humorist, and he never practised law. His reputation was further confirmed by work including The Black Poodle (1884) and The Tinted Venus (1885). Guthrie began working for Punch in 1886 and he remained with the magazine until 1930. He had a talent for burlesque and parody, and for recording and transmitting the day-to-day talk of Londoners. His Punch series included Voces populi, Mr. Punch's Young Recite, Mr. Punch's Model Music-Hall Songs and Dramas and Mr. Punch's Pocket Ibsen.